I've been told by some that Affiliate Programs don't make any money and to stick with AdSense. Others say that Affiliate Programs are the only way to make real money on the internet.

I have more experience with AdSense than affiliate programs, so I wanted to get your opinions about which is true and which is not--if either.

Thanks!

Welcome to the forums newsguy!

We have a few affiliate websites running & they tend to make a little money every month. Most of them are actually clients that refer more business to us. But they range in about $5 to $200. True, it is not that much but I do not think there is hardly any money made anymore in affiliate programs. You do have to sell the product.

Personally, when I do want something, I do tend to put an ad out to see who might be reselling it to give them at least some credit.

I've heard lots of good things about Affiliate Programs.

If you're the one offering it, that gives others incentive to push your business for you. For someone like me who would rather play with a Give-Yourself-A-Lobotomy-At-Home kit than go to a networking event and schmooze, an Affiliate Program could be a very good thing. It would be like having your own sales force.

For the Affiliates themselves, it only works as good as the effort they put into it. If their copy gets attention and sells -- cha-ching! If, instead, their copy makes people want to get the abovementioned lobotomy kit, obviously they're not going to make much regardless of what they're hawking.

From the perspective of a website promoting affiliate products and services, including Adsense, I would say that I get an average income of US$400 a month from which Adsense contribute 12.5% of the monthly income.